Book Review: Playing for Keeps by R.L. Mathewson

Done with being the world’s biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn’t expect was to be sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan and she won’t let herself forget just what the bad boy next door is capable of.

The last thing Jason expected was for his little shy neighbor to go Rambo on him over some ruined flowers. After he decides to take her under his wing he can’t help but notice that she fits very nicely in his life. Now the only thing left is to convince her that this is anything but a game.

My Review:

Playing for Keeps started out super cute. I was a big fan of the whole “I hate my neighbor, but he’s super hot” vibe that the book had going on. I also really loved the banter and pranks between the two main characters. On the flip side, I do wish that their had maybe been a little more steam and sexiness between the two of them. I will say that both of their characters rotated between acting a little too juvenile and a little too grandma and grandpaish.

What really confused me about Playing for Keeps is that the two main characters were a couple by like 25% of the book. I’m not talking the type of couple who is dating and still getting to know each other. No, I’m talking about the sort of couple who sleeps together every night and knows each others tells. It was around this point that I started getting a little confused since 25% of the book was still left. Unfortunately, I had some valid concerns about this. The rest of the book was really just random filler space and made it realllllllllly long. I would have liked to see more of a buildup for the MC’s relationship and more sexiness between them.

One of my biggest complaints about this book was Jason’s character. He came across as very juvenile and immature. Sure, he was funny. I also really liked some of those funny moments that he demonstrated. That being said, he was just a little too juvenile and immature for my taste. He laughed at everything, he was over the top dramatic, and he just wasn’t somebody that I could ever see myself dating. I really wanted him to have some hardcore sexy moments and that just never happened.

Since I mentioned my dislike for Jason’s character, I guess I do have to mention by dislike for Haley’s character. While I didn’t dislike Haley as much as I did Jason, I found her very grandma like. It was difficult to warm up to the 29 year-old virgin who acted like she was 65. She had no backbone, she whined a lot, and she sometimes had the maturity of a 10-year-old girl in the pit of a Justin Beiber concert. Her qualities made her perfect for Jason’s character, but I couldn’t stand them as a couple.

I’m really sad that I ended up disliking this book, because I was a big fan of the first 15-18% of the book or so. Then, it reached a point where all I wanted to do was skim the book. In fact, I couldn’t even make it to the end of the book. It was just that bad. I don’t see myself really continuing with this author. At least it was free….